Salivary and GCF Vitamin C Levels: Implications for Local and Systemic Periodontal Defense

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition influenced by oxidative stress, which contributes to tissue destruction. Vitamin C, a key antioxidant, is essential for maintaining periodontal health through its role in collagen synthesis and free radical scavenging.

This study aimed to assess vitamin C levels in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) across different stages of periodontitis and explore their potential as biomarkers of disease progression.

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 43 participants categorized into healthy, mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis groups according to the 2017 classification. Saliva and GCF samples were collected and analyzed for vitamin C using validated biochemical methods. Statistical analysis included Kruskal-Wallis tests and pairwise comparisons.

Salivary vitamin C levels were significantly higher in healthy individuals and progressively decreased with increasing disease severity. GCF vitamin C concentrations were consistently higher than in saliva across all groups, with elevated levels in both healthy and severe periodontitis participants. However, intergroup differences in GCF levels were not statistically significant.

The study reveals distinct profiles of vitamin C in saliva and GCF, highlighting its local and systemic antioxidant roles. These findings suggest that vitamin C may serve as a useful biomarker in periodontal disease assessment.